Pear and Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

150g butter, chopped

150g dark chocolate, chopped

5 eggs, separated

1 cup caster sugar

¹⁄³ cup crème fraiche

½ cup almond meal

¾ cup cocoa powder

400g can pears in syrup, drained, rinsed

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180ºC. Grease and line a 23cm spring form cake pan with bakingpaper.2. Place butter and chocolate in a large heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Melt butter and chocolate until smooth.3. Place eggs whites in the Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl. Using the whisk whip eggwhites on very high speed (11-12) until stiff peaks form. Set aside.4. Place egg yolks in the Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl. Using the whisk whip eggyolks and sugar on very high speed (11-12) until light and pale.5.Reduce to high speed (8-10) and slowly add chocolate mixture and creme fraiche.On low speed (1-4) sift over almond meal and cocoa powder, mix until just combined.6. Fold through egg whites in three batches. Gently pour into prepared pan. Arrangepears over mixture. Bake for 40 minutes or until firm and cooked when tested.Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes. Place on wire rack to cool.